Meet Robert

How would you feel, if you were locked up, alone in a box? Nobody paid any attention to you, but you had food and water. Basic survival necessities. This is a story about heartbreak and love with hopes of a happy ending.

First, I must let you know that I am an animal magnet. I love them all, and they seem drawn to me. With a rescued maltipoo, who in her five years with us has become the true Lady of the house, two finches and a cockatiel, and a 75 gallon fish tank filled with beautiful fish, our home was quite complete. Then, we met Robert. A beautiful, shy grey cockatiel, who has been sadly neglected.

We shop the same three pet stores for all our needs, and one of the larger chain stores recently renovated their store. The small aviary that housed parakeets and the adjoining single "boxes" for fancier birds was removed from the front of the store. In the two years + that our family has been shopping there, we always stopped to see the pretty birds. For a short time we thought all the birds were gone. Imagine our shock at finding the four glass boxes set into a small side aisle facing the bird supplies. No birds eye view, so to speak, for the public or the birds. Two of the boxes remained empty, but for two years we visited biweekly Pat the Conure and Robert the cockatiel. Robert has the most beautiful feathers, and we were told he was "unsellable" because he bit someone and drew blood. He sat, sometimes with no toys, alone, next to Pat for two years. Neglected. Cockatiels by their very nature are social birds, and need human interaction. In fact, they can be more loyal and companionable than dogs.
At first, our visits were brief, and Robert would seem happy to see us, bobbling his sweet head for attention, showing us his beautiful plumage. After a while, we came to care about this bird and with each visit, we were saddened by the fact that he was not yet sold to a loving home. Well, last week I solved that issue. After breaking my heart with his pitiful squawk, I decided it was time to put up or shut up. The management had no issue reducing his price by more than half just to be rid of him. I arrived to find him already in a box, crying. I took him immediately to have his wings and nails clipped and to have him examined. I have a sweet, scared bird, who is desperate to play, but terrified at the same time.
This blog will record Robert's new life. A life where he has toys, love and attention. Hopefully, his happy ever after. Stay tuned for our journey.